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Visit Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital city of North Korea.
Hundreds of beautifully crafted monuments and memorial murals showing off political leaders and party workers are scattered throughout the city.
Pyongyang is a lovely city for those who love Socialist Classicism architecture.
NOTE: this page is not politically biased nor am I writing on behalf of someone or any government. This page is about DPRK traveling and tourism. The reasons why I enjoyed my time in North Korea are immense – the same way I have many reasons to enjoy all the other more than 120 countries I have visited.
Visit Pyongyang – City Guide
Pyongyang was heavily bombed and turned to rubble by USA during the Korean War, so most of the infrastructure in the city is built with a mix of socialist Soviet architecture style and Korean architecture.
Like in all socialist influenced cities around the world, Pyongyang has a vast number of high-quality museums.
Korean people in general are very friendly and always curious to interact with foreigners.
To visit Pyongyang is to experience something different from the rest of Asia, and probably you’ll have the sense of being somewhere between Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The 29th floor of the Yanggakdo Hotel where my room was located, provided me wonderful views of the city and the Taedong River.
Honoring DPRK’s leaders – Controversial ceremony
What to see in Pyongyang
Juche Tower – Pyongyang
Juche Tower – this beautiful 170 m / 557 ft monument in honor of the Juche ideology is located on the banks of the Taedong. You can go up the elevator and enjoy amazing panoramic views of Pyongyang.
Metro – Pyongyang
Pyongyang Metro – following the example of Moscow and St. Petersburg, the stunning Pyongyang subway stations are indeed among the most beautiful in the world. It is estimated that around half million people use the metro daily. Pyongyang Metro is the deepest subway system in the world, 120 m / 394 ft below ground and can therefore be used as a shelter in case of armed conflict. Some of the subway stations are breathtaking.
Victorious War Museum – Pyongyang
Victorious War Museum – the impressive war museum has excellent exhibitions that will help you understand a bit more about the Korean War conflict. In the museum complex we can visit the USS Pueblo, a captured US Navy ship. The museum exhibits several tanks, 4X4 and airplanes from the times of the Korean War.
Taedongmun Gate – Pyongyang
Taedongmun Gate – built in mid-6th century – was the East gate of the ancient walled city of Pyongyang.
Mansu Hill – Pyongyang
Mansu Hill – many things can be visited inside the garden complex of Mansu Hill. The Mansudae Grand Monument consists of two enormous 22 m / 72 ft high bronze statues of North Korean leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. Near the statues are also the Socialist Revolution monument and the Korean Revolution Museum. The Mansudae Fountain located right in front of the Grand People’s Study House is dedicated to Kim Il-sung.
Chollima Statue – Pyongyang
Chollima Statue – symbolizing the horse of Chollima speed from the Chollima Movement, which emphasized ideological encouragement to work harder to achieve progress and prosperity.
Korean Revolution Museum – Pyongyang
Korean Revolution Museum – exhibition of Kim Il-sung and the Korean revolutionary movement related items and objects.
Kim Il-sung Square – Pyongyang
Kim Il-sung Square – this is the main square of the country where political events, mass demonstrations, important meetings and parades are held on official holidays.
Arch of Triumph – Pyongyang
Arch of Triumph – the 60 m / 197 ft arch is the second tallest triumphal arch in the world and was erected to commemorate the Korean resistance to the Japanese invasion. It is located near the place where President Kim Il Sung made a speech in front of 400 000 people, after returning to Korea in October 14th, 1945.
Monument to Party Founding – Pyongyang
Monument to Party Founding – this pure Socialist monument symbolizes the workers, farmers and North Korean intellectuals through the sculpted hammer, brush and sickle. The monument was inaugurated on the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Workers’ Party of Korea. The Workers Party of Korea monument was erected in October 1995. The belt represents the unity of the leader, the party and the people.
Arch of Reunification – Pyongyang
Arch of Reunification – this monument was built to glorify and commemorate the Korean reunification project of the 2001 peace proposals.
Palace of the Sun Kumsusan – Pyongyang
Palace of the Sun Kumsusan – this impressive sepulchral monument is located in an isolated area of Pyongyang. This is the actual memorial place for Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il – former leaders of the DPRK. Many people come here to pay their respect to them. A visit to Palace of the Sun is somehow surreal.
Train Station – Pyongyang
Pyongyang Train Station – this station serves most of the biggest cities in DPRK and also two international night connections to Beijing and Moscow.
Photo gallery – A different look at Pyongyang
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